Today, March 17, at 8:12 p.m. both the International Space Station and the Space Shuttle will be visible with back yard telescopes here in Italy, Texas. There will be an approximate three minute widow of visibility. The approach will be from the North West moving towards the North-North East.

Are you thinking about Spring Break? Italy High School is out March 16-22 and the students will be out early on Friday. What activities have you come up with to entertain your family during the next week? Neotrib has come up with a few suggestions to get those creative juices flowing.

Due to inclement weather and a soggy arena, the Yearling Clinic at the Flying Dollar Ranch, which was originally scheduled for Saturday, March 14, has been rescheduled to Thursday, March 19, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The first catalogued fragments of shattered satellite Cosmos 2251 are about to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere. According to US Strategic Command tracking data, reentries will occur on March 12th, 28th and 30th, followed by more in April.

Tonight, February 27th if you take a little time to look up at the sky at about sunset you will be able to see a Moon-Venus conjunction. Now, this is not an unusual event but this conjunction will have some unique qualities.

Saturday, February 28, the “Roads of Texas” car rally will be making a stop at Monolithic Constructors in Italy. There will be approximately thirty cars driving up Dome Park Place using the Monolithic’s “Visitors Center” as a check point for the event. They will then be driving through Italy and out along Morgan Road.

What are the odds? On Tuesday, Feb. 24th, Saturn and Comet Lulin will converge in the constellation Leo only 2 degrees apart. At the same time, Comet Lulin will be making its closest approach to Earth—the comet at its best!— while four of Saturn’s moons transit the disk of the ringed planet in view of backyard telescopes. Oh, and the Moon will be New, providing dark skies for anyone who wishes to see the show.

What would you like to do this weekend? Round and round we go. Ellis County and the surrounding cities in Texas have many things to choose from for the family outing. Just take a look at what we have to do.

This week has an end and a beginning. 2009 is knocking at our door and you have to be ready to greet it. Grasp the new by the reins and ride into the horizon. Have you made plans yet for New Year’s Eve or the weekend? Here are a few ideas to begin the new year.

The Lions Club Delivers! This Saturday, December 13th, the Italy Lions Club will host its 3rd Annul Breakfast with Santa. If you are unable to get out Saturday morning they will be happy to deliver to your door!

There are still lots of activities around our area to fill your holiday time. If you just stay in Italy on Saturday your whole day will be busy. Is travel on your mind? That’s ok too. Just take a look at the different events and you can plan many family activities.

Saturday, December 13th from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM the city of Italy will have it’s first annual Christmas Festival and Christmas parade. Santa Claus, his elves and even Frosty the Snowman will be on hand. They have also just added more fun to this festival. They will have cash prizes and other great giveaways!

The holidays are here! There are so many activities that can fill your upcoming days and we list a few here for you. You and your family can have many opportunities to celebrate the upcoming season in style.

Several wonderful new books are available for your reading pleasure at the Dunlap Library. So light the fire, make some hot chocolate and wrap up in a cozy blanket because the stories you are about to read are, at times, bone chilling.

We will have, from time to time, guest reviewers of popular new books at the Library. I’d like to introduce our first book reviewers, the Brothers Garcia (also know as Eli and Isacc). They are the sons of Albert and Davee Garcia and the brothers of Adela Jean. These lads simply tore through the book collection this summer and it was a wonderful thing to see, indeed!

Saturday at College Park Mall in Corsicana, the city of Corsicana will be holding their “Days in November” annual arts and crafts show. Along with the craft show, Corsicana Animal Shelter will be there with many animals to be adopted from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be about six cats and 10 or more small dogs for adoption.

In the past, Italy High School was able to celebrate Homecoming with a bonfire. Then for many years, because of the burn ban or other inabilities to organize, the Seniors did not have one. This year, though not a school sponsored event, they have come full circle and achieved the bonfire once more!

In 1986, George E. Scott started a scholarship fund to help deserving Italy High School graduates with money to attend college. The George E. Scott Memorial Scholarship Committee continues that vision. They are hosting a barbecue dinner fundraiser Friday, October 24 in the High School Cafeteria from 5-7 p.m. for $6 per person. Bubba’s of Ennis will cater the dinner. Come share the spirit of Homecoming, the vision of George Scott and some great barbecue.

What are you and your family doing on Tuesday, October 14? I know where you could be going — to the Circus! That’s right, the Circus will be here at the Italy Wayne Boze Chapel. The shows are at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Your time is important and checking a lot of different resources to create your plans might waste some. Please feel free to check out our calendar to see what is happening around the State of Texas for this week.

Back in August of 1984, a community-police partnership was formed entitled National Night Out. The event still exists and is sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch in the United States and Canada. The purpose of this program is to increase awareness of police programs in communities, such as town watch, drug prevention and other anti-crime efforts. At first communities held lights-on vigils, but now, communities host festivals, block parties or other events to help bring neighbors together.

Last Saturday night, September 27 there is darkness everywhere. Far off in the night you can hear loud, frightening music. As you get closer to the music you begin to see some filmy light which exposes some very ghoulish looking characters. All of sudden you see children and adults running out the back of a haunted house, and you begin to realize there is a lot of screaming coming from inside the house.

Most small towns all over the country are full of history and Italy is no exception. They have something else in common, too — folklore. Italy is rich with it. As all the old timers will tell you, Italy has had her share of strange tales throughout the years. The folklore seems to surface around the time of harvest or Halloween every year.

It looks like football weather has arrived. The Italy Gladiators are traveling to Chilton, Texas for a game time of 7:30 this Friday night. The Lady Gladiators also travel to Chilton for some volleyball action beginning at 5 p.m. on Friday. The Waxahachie Indians play West Mesquite at home beginning at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 5.

Located in Ellis County, right outside of Italy, and in Navarro County in Dawson, just a short drive from Waxahachie, Hillsboro, Ennis or Corsicana, we have clean, comfortable studio efficiencies available for rent.

For those of you in the city of Italy and surrounding areas, Monolithic always welcomes donated medical equipment and is currently in need of all types of wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, etc. The donated items are distributed as a FREE service to those in need.

If you are need of a place to set up an office for you to have a business atmosphere and ample room to conduct your business, you are in luck. There is office space available at 177 Dome Park Place, Italy, Texas with easy access to I-35E.

With over 40 years experience, Monolithic, Inc., is making available its ability to spray/coat Polyurethane Foam on just about anything needing to to be made leak proof or sound proof wether it’s fortifying a roof, a shed, a cooler, a basement ceiling or even your vehicle!

If you are need of a place to set up an office for you to have a business atmosphere and ample room to conduct your business, you are in luck. There is office space available at 177 Dome Park Place, Italy, Texas with easy access to I-35E.

Little known fact…Milford is the home of a backyard upholstery shop owned by Mr. Clarence Snell. Clarence recently recovered chairs for the offices at Monolithic and the staff couldn’t be happier with the results.